Roll assembly and disassembly means for rotary print machine



March 1965 A. R. HAMILTON 3, ,3

ROLL ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINT MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l LTON A. R. HAMl M March 16, 1965 ROLL ASSE BLY AND DISAS EMBLY MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINT ACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1963 EH 0 EEEQEMEEMHE;

United States Patent Office 3,173,366 Patented Mar. 16, 1965 ROLL ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINT MACHINE Alan R. Hamilton, Paxton, Mass, assignor to Rice Barton Corporation, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Aug. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 305,435

Claims. (Cl. 101178) The present invention relates to rotary print machines and more particularly to an improved print roll support assembly for said machine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved print roll support assembly which is simple in construction, and is well adapted for the ready assembly and disassembly of the print roll in operating position in the machine with a minimum of effort and without dis turbing difficult to adjust positional settings of the print roll support assembly.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a 'rotary print machine improved devices including pairs of support cones for supporting and for removing from and returning to operative position a group of tubular print rolls arranged in accordance with a pattern, in which one support cone of each pair is shifted from operating position While the other cone remains in position, and in which means are provided for supporting and for moving the several print rolls as a pattern arranged group axially away from the remaining supporting cones and thereafter in downward and sideways directions from the machine,

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved carriage for the assembly in and removal from the machine of pattern arranged groups of print rolls includingrmeans for moving the print rolls longitudinally thereof into and out of operating engagement with the non-removable cones adjacent one end of the backing are grouped about the central backing roll, and the carriage on which said rolls are Withdrawn from the machine while maintained in the operating group position;

FIG. 2 is a view looking from the right of substantially the parts shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the axis of one of the print rolls;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on a line 44 of FIG, 3; and

FIG, 5 is a detail view of the parts shown in FIG. 4 looking from the right.

The invention is herein disclosed in a preferred form as embodied in a rotary print machine for printing paper, textile and similar fabrics and the invention is particularly, but by no means exclusively, adapted for use in a strikeoff machine in which the machine is set up for relatively short runs with different fabric patterns which are in this manner tested prior to commercial adoption.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises two heavy frames 1t and 12 providing support for a large ing roll 14 for the printing of any desired pattern on the traveling web. The individual tubular print rolls 20 are mounted in bearing members 22, 24 of which each bearing member 22 as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 is arranged for adjustment transversely of the print roll axis on ways formed 011 an adjustable support 26 rigidly mounted on the semi-circular brackets 16. The bearing member 24 is pinned at 27 to a similar support 23 on the bracket 18. As best shown in FIG. 3, the tubular print roll 20 is supported at its two ends on support cones 30, 32 which are mounted respectively on interfitting print roll supporting shaft components consisting of a sleeve member 34 and a drawbar 36 interfitting therewith. The support cone 30 is formed on the inner end of the sleeve element 34 which is externally supported by means of a bushing '38 which is in turn journalled in the bearing member 22. The bushing 33 is arranged at one end to abut against a shoulder 40 formed in the sleeve 34 and at its other end abuts against a stop collar 42 secured to the external surface of the sleeve 34-. In order to control accurately the lengthwise position of bushing 33 and sleeve 34 controlled thereby, a screw and nut adjustment is provided which comprises a longitudinally extending screw 44 threaded into a nut 46 formed on the upper side of the bearing member 22 and at its other end journalled through a lug 48 formed on the bushing 38, being held against axial movement therein between collars $0, 52;. The sleeve member 34 is positively driven by conventional means which include a driven gear 54 secured to the sleeve 34 and a driving bull gear 56. Since the driving connections referred to are well known in the art and form no part of the invention, no further description thereof is believed necessary.

The drawbar 36 which is interfitted With the sleeve -34 is supported adjacent its left hand end in a bushing 60 which is fitted between two stop collars 62, 64 secured to the drawbar. The bushing 60 is externally supported in the bearing member 24, and is keyed against rotational movement therein by means of a pin 66 which extends parallel to the axis of the drawbar, having one end secured to the bearing member 24 and its other end slidably fitted into a bore formed in a lug 68 on the bushing 60. The drawbar 36 provides support for the cone 32 which is seated against a shoulder portion 72 of the drawbar, The drawbar 36 passes through the print roll 20 and sleeve 34 and at its outer end is formed with an axial bore threaded to receive a tightening screw 76 having a collar 77 which is adapted to be tightened against the right hand end face of the sleeve 34, and thereby to relatively tighten the cones 30, 32 against the respective ends of the tubular print roll 20.

With the arrangement above described, each print roll 2i may be readily disassembled from its supporting and driving connections in the following manner, The nut 76 is backed olf whereupon it is possible to withdraw the drawbar 36 together with the bushing 66 through the bearing member 24, While at the same time the full length of the drawbar is withdrawn from the sleeve 34 and print roll 20 and also through the left hand support cone 32 so that said latter cone 32 is free to drop out.

The construction above described has the advantage that the print rolls 2!) may be disassembled from the machine as set forth, and may thereafter be reassembled without upsetting the positional adjustments of the hearing members 22, 24 including the transverse adjustment of bearing support 22, above described, and the longitudinal adjustment of the print roll 20 as determined by the axial setting of the support cone 30, sleeve 34 and bushing 38.

In the illustrated machine a carriage is provided on to which the several print rolls are transferred while they are retained in the same relative positions which they occupy in the machine for the printing of a particular pattern on the fabric. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the carriage referred to comprises a base element 80 movable transversely under the printing assembly including backing roll 14 and print rolls 2%}, a platform 82 vertically movable on said base, and a print roll receiving frame 84- supported for movement on said platform in a direction longitudinally of the print rolls 2%. The base 80 consists of an oblong, box-like structure mounted on wheels 86 which ride on rails 83 located to move the carriage accurately under the backing roll 14 and print rolls 29. The platform 82 is supported from the base on a conventional hydraulic lift device including scissor arms 99 and a hydraulic lifting cylinder not specifically shown. The apparatus shown has a lift of approximately three feet and a capacity which may be in the order of several tons.

In accordance with the invention the print roll receiving frame 84 is mounted on wheels 94 which travel on a track 96 on the platform 82 to provide for a limited movement of the print roll receiving frame 84 in a direction longitudinally of the print rolls. In order to effect this movement, an upwardly extending manually operable lever 98 is provided at one end of the carriage, supported at its lower end on a rock shaft 1% which is mounted in brackets 102 to ext nd along the underside of the print roll receiving frame. Adjacent each end of the rock shaft 100 there is provided a downwardly extending arm 104 which engages in a slot 196 formed in the surface of the platform 82. Movement of the manual control lever 98 from its position at the left in FIG. 2, as shown in solid lines, to the right has the effect of moving the print roll receiving frame 82 and the several print rolls 2% supported on the frame a short distance to the left so that the several print rolls 2% are moved clear of the ends of the support cones 30 in whicn position the frame and rolls supported thereon can be moved downwardly to a lowered position in which the entire carriage and print rolls carried thereby can be moved away from the machine.

The invention having been described what is claimed is:

1. In a rotary print machine having a backing cylinder and tubular print rolls arranged in accordance with a pattern about the underside of said backing roll, a pair of tubular print roll support brackets on the machine adjacent opposite ends of the backing cylinder, and a pair of bearing members on the respective brackets, the combination of a print roll support assembly mounting a said print roll in said bearing members arranged for assembly and disassembly while said print roll is supported in axial alignment with said bearing members, which comprises a pair of interfitting print roll support shaft components comprising a sleeve element and a draw bar mounted in the bearing members of said pair, a pair of support cones for engagement with opposite ends of the tubular print roll, one of said cones being secured to the end of said sleeve element abutting one end of the print roll, and the other said cone being supported on the draw bar axially against the other end of the print roll, driving means connected with said sleeve member for rotatably driving said sleeve member, cones and print roll engaged therewith, a print roll axial adjustment which comprises an adjusting device connected between said sleeve bearing element and bearing support controlling the axial position of said sleeve element in said bearing member, the diameter of the draw bar along its length and the diameter of the sleeve element, cone supported thereon, and bearing support therefor being chosen to permit the withdrawal of said draw bar endwise through said interfitting sleeve element, said cone supported thereon, and through the bearing support for said draw bar to permit the withdrawal of the print roll from between said bearing supports, and a threaded tightening connection between the draw bar and sleeve.

2. In a rotary print machine having a backing cylinder and tubular print rolls arranged in accordance with a pattern about the underside of said backing roll, a print roll support assembly which comprises a pair of tubular print roll support brackets on the machine adjacent opposite ends of the backing cylinder, a print roll support assembly for each tubular print roll comprising a pair of bearing members on the respective brackets, a pair of support cones for engagement with opposite ends of the tubular print roll, a pair of interfitting print roll supporting shaft components comprising a sleeve element mounting one of said cones at the end of said sleeve abutting the print roll and supported to rotate in one of said bearing members, and a drawbar carried in the other of said bearing members having a reduced portion engaging the other of said cones and passing through said print roll into said sleeve, a sleeve bushing axially fixed on said sleeve and journalled through the associated bearing member, means for axially adjusting said sleeve bushing, sleeve, and supported cone for adjustably positioning a print roll engaged thereby, a second bushing supporting said drawbar in the other of said bearing members, and a threaded tightening connection between the drawbar and sleeve releasable to permit the withdrawal of the drawbar through said other bearing member from the sleeve, print roll and cone mounted thereon, and thereby to permit the withdrawal of the print roll transversely of its axis from between said bearings, and the assembly of the print roll between said bearings in a position determined axially in accordance with the adjustment of said sleeve bushing.

3. For use in a rotary print machine having a backing roll, a plurality of tubular print rolls grouped in accordance with a pattern about the underside of the backing roll, bearing supports for said print rolls adjacent opposite ends of said backing roll, a pair of support cones for engagement with opposite ends of each said tubular print roll, a pair of interfitting print roll support shaft components comprising a cone supporting sleeve supported in a predetermined position in one of said bearing supports, and an interfitting cone supporting shaft removably supported in the other of said bearing supports, the combination of a carriage for the assembly in and removal from the machine of said grouped print rolls having a base element movable transversely under said print rolls, a platform vertically movable on said base, and a print roll receiving frame having rests for supporting each said print roll in the grouped position, said print roll receiving frame being supported for movement on said platform in a direction longitudinally of said print rolls, means for moving said platform between a raised position in which said rests are in supporting engagement with the respective cone supported print rolls and a lowered print roll removal position, and an actuating device connected between said print roll receiving frame and said platform for shifting said print roll receiving frame longitudinally between an operating position in which the rolls on said frame are engaged with said sleeve supported cones and an alternate position in which said print rolls are moved clear of said sleeve supported cones.

4. Mechanism for the assembly and disassembly of a plurality of print rolls in grouped relation about the underside of a backing roll in a rotary print machine which comprises, in combination, a plurality of tubular print rolls grouped in accordance with a pattern about the underside of the backing roll, bearing supports for said print rolls adjacent opposite ends of said backing roll, a pair of support cones for engagement with opposite ends of each said tubular print roll, a pair of interfitting print roll cone support shaft components comprising a cone supporting sleeve for each said print roll supported in a predetermined position in one of said bearing supports, and an interfitting cone supporting shaft for each said print roll removably supported in the other of said bearing supports, and a carriage for the assembly in and removal from the machine of said grouped print rolls comprising a base element movable transversely under said print rolls, a platform vertically movable on said base, and a print roll receiving frame having rests located for a raised position of said platform in supporting engagement with the respective cone support print rolls, said print roll receiving frame being supported for movement on said platform in a direction longitudinally of said print roll between an operating position in which rolls on said frame are engaged with said sleeve supported cones and an alternate position in which said print rolls are moved clear of said sleeve supported cones.

5. For use in a rotary print machine having a backing roll, a plurality of tubular print rolls grouped about the underside of the backing roll, bearing supports for each said print roll against opposite sides of said backing roll, and a print roll support assembly mounting each said print roll in said bearing support, comprising a pair of support cones for engagement with opposite ends of the tubular print roll, a pair of interfitting print roll support shaft components comprising a sleeve element mounted in one of said bearing members having one of said cones secured to the end of said sleeve element abutting the print roll, a draw bar interfitting with said sleeve element providing support for the other said cone and arranged to be assembled axially with and disassembled from said sleeve element and a print roll aligned with said cones through the other said bearing element; a carriage for the assembly in and removal from the machine of said print roll having, in combination, a base element movable transversely under said print rolls, a print roll receiving frame having rests for supporting a said print roll, means on said base for moving said print roll receiving frame and print roll between a lowered print roll removal position and a raised assembly position in which said print roll is aligned between said bearing supports, and for shifting said print roll receiving frame and supported print roll longitudinally between an operating position in which said print roll is engaged with the sleeve supported cone and an alternate position in which said sleeve print roll is moved clear of said sleeve supported cone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,515,382 Cheesman Nov. 11, 1924 1,891,405 Ericksson Dec. 20, 1932 2,260,402 Potdevin Oct. 28, 1941 2,587,606 Dungler Mar. 4, 1952 2,659,305 Giori Nov. 17, 1953 2,792,781 Kaldschrnidt May 21, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 897,107 Germany Oct. 8, 1953 

1. IN A ROTARY PRINT MACHINE HAVING A BACKING CYLINDER AND TUBULAR PRINT ROLLS ARRANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PATTERN ABOUT THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID BACKING ROLL, A PAIR OF TUBULAR PRINT ROLL SUPPORT BRACKETS ON THE MACHINE ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BACKING CYLINDER, AND A PAIR OF BEARING MEMBERS ON THE RESPECTIVE BRACKETS, THE COMBINATION OF A PRINT ROLL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY MOUNTING A SAID PRINT ROLL IN SAID BEARING MEMBERS ARRANGED FOR ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY WHILE SAID PRINT ROLL IS SUPPORTED IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BEARING MEMBERS, WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF INTERFITTING PRINT ROLL SUPPORT SHAFT COMPONENTS COMPRISING A SLEEVE ELEMENT AND A DRAW BAR MOUNTED IN THE BEARING MEMBERS OF SAID PAIR, A PAIR OF SUPPORT CONES FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE TUBULAR PRINT ROLL, ONE OF SAID CONES BEING SECURED TO THE END OF SAID SLEEVE ELEMENT ABUTTING ONE END OF THE PRINT ROLL, AND THE OTHER SAID CONE BEING SUPPORTED ON THE DRAW BAR AXIALLY AGAINST THE OTHER END OF THE PRINT ROLL, DRIVING MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID SLEEVE MEMBER FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING SAID SLEEVE MEMBER, CONES AND PRINT ROLL ENGAGED THEREWITH, A PRINT ROLL AXIAL ADJUSTMENT WHICH COMPRISES AN ADJUSTING DEVICE CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE BEARING ELEMENT AND BEARING SUPPORT CONTROLLING THE AXIAL POSITION OF SAID SLEEVE ELEMENT IN SAID BEARING MEMBER, THE DIAMETER OF THE DRAW BAR ALONG ITS LENGTH AND THE DIAMETER OF THE SLEEVE ELEMENT CONE SUPPORTED THEREON, AND BEARING SUPPORT THEREFOR BEING CHOSEN TO PERMIT THE WITHDRAWAL OF SAID DRAW BAR ENDWISE THROUGH SAID INTERFITTING SLEEVE ELEMENT, SAID CONE SUPPORTED THEREON, AND THROUGH THE BEARING SUPPORT FOR SAID DRAW BAR TO PERMIT THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PRINT ROLL FROM BETWEEN SAID BEARING SUPPORTS, AND A THRESHOLD TIGHTENING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DRAW BAR AND SLEEVE. 